Self-adjusting quick coupling device for hose



Nov. 29, 1955 K. wElNHoLD 2,725,246

SELF-ADJUSTING QUICK COUPLING DEVICE FOR HOSE Filed March 1a, 1952 ff /0 r Wwf/JM@ KARL WNHLD bj @JM Rflwiw IQTTRNE V5 United Statesljatent 1C@ SELF-ADJUSTING QUICK coUPLlNG DEVICE v Fon Hosn Karl Weinhold, Dusseldorf, Germany Application March 18, 1952, Serial No. 277,225

Claims priority, application Germany March 28, 1951 Claims. (Cl. 285-77) This invention relates to couplings, particularly quick detachable couplings especially for conduits or hose of resilient material.

Quick detachable couplings of the nature referred to are known in the art, but heretofore have been lacking in one or more respects, for example, some of the couplings are of a nature that the seal effected either tended to leak, or easily became leaky after the coupling was in use for a short time. In other circumstances, the seal effected was adequate, butrthe coupling could not be detached quickly and easily enough to be used in all circumstances.

Couplings of the nature referred to according to the prior art, as, for example, couplings for compressed air lines, generally comprise two similar coupling halves which are connected to the end of the two lengths of hose to be connected, and then the couplings brought together and drawn together and a seal effected therebetween by means of packing located in the face of each coupling half. The principal disadvantage of a coupling of this nature is that the packing rings in the faces of the coupling halves tend to deteriorate rapidly, and within a short time a substantial amount of air is lost therefrom.

In another type of coupling, the coupling is made in the form of a union with a ground joint, with the coupling halves clamped to the hose ends and retained thereon by screw threads. With an arrangement of this nature, there is always the chance of the threads becoming damaged and making the coupling inoperative, and, furthermore, great precision is required in the production of the ground joints where the seal between the coupling halves is effected, and even the slightest bit of foreign matter between the ground faces of the joints will cause leakage. Such a coupling also must many times be drawn up tight with a wrench, and this materially detracts from the speed with which the coupling can be opened and closed.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention has for its particular object the provision of a coupling of the quick detachable type, particularly for resilient hose and the like, which avoids all of the objections referred to above that occur in connection with prior art couplings.

This invention also has as an object the provision of a coupling of the nature referred to which will be inexpensive to manufacture.

A still further object is the provision of a quick detachable coupling which will automatically compensate for irregularities in the thickness of the wall of the hoses being connected.

ln brief, the objects of this invention are obtained by providing an inner sleeve adapted for being received in the ends of the lengths of hose to be connected and a double clamp adapted for clamping about the ends of the hoses which are slipped over the sleeve. The clamp is advantageously provided with a manually operated overcenter spring clip or clamp by means of which it can be very quickly closed or opened.

2,725,246 Patented Nov. 29, 1955 These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a coupling according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section, indicated by line a-b in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-section similar to Figure 2, but showing a somewhat different constructional arrangement of the coupling;

Figure 4 is a view like Figure l, but shows a somewhat different arrangement of the coupling;

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 and is indicated by line c-d in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the coupling of Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, in Figure 1 there is illustrated the hose ends 1 and 2, and clamped about the hose ends is a plier-like clamp consisting of the arms 3 and 4 about hose end 1, and arms 6 and 7 about hose end 2. These arms are integrally connected7 as by the sleeve portion 9, extending between jaws 3 and 6 and sleeve portion 10 extending between jaw portions 4 and 7, and the plier-like arrangement is obtained by the pivot bolt 5, as will best be seen in Figure 2.

Within the describedclamp and extending into both of the hose ends is a sleeve 11 having the enlarged portion 12, 13 at the opposite ends thereof and the spaced central annular collars 14.

When the coupling is to be employed for connecting the hose ends together, the hose ends are positioned into the hose ends of the double sleeve 11 until they abut one of the collars 14, and the jaws are then clamped around the hose ends, as illustrated in Figure l.

The clamping of the jaws about the hose ends may be accomplished by providing a iinger lever 16 pivoted to one of the jaws, for example, the jaws 4 and 7, by means of a pivot pin 15 which may, for example, be carried by the sleeve 10 that connects the said jaws. Lever 16 has a loop or yoke 17 pivoted thereon by pin 17 in eccentric relation to pivot pin 15. The closed end 18 of loop 17 is adapted for hooking over hook 19 associated with jaws 3 and 6 by being secured, for example, to the interconnecting sleeve 9 of the said jaws.

It will be noted in Figure 2 that when the coupling is closed, the pivot point of loop 17 on finger lever 16 has snapped overcenter relative to pivot pin 15 and the coupling is thus positively locked closed.

A further feature of the coupling illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 resides in the rib 20 which may be formed on one of the sleeves 9 and 10, and which extends into the annular groove 21 between collars 14. This arrangement permits of radial shifting of sleeve 11 relative to the encircling clamp to accommodate for variable thicknesses in the walls ofthe hose ends, while at the same time providing for axial location of the clamp relative to the sleeve so that when the clamp is closed, the jaws 3, 4, 6, and 7 thereof are positioned inwardly of the enlarged portions 12 and 13 of the sleeve 11. The arrangement thus provides a positive connection between the hose ends and one which is leak-tight under all circumstances.

The arrangement shown in Figure 3 is similar to the arrangement of Figures 1 and 2, but the sleeve 11, instead of being provided with collars 14 is provided with a finger or arm 22 that extends laterally outwardly and encircles pivot pin 5 for the jaws. Arm or finger 22- preferably encircles the pivot pin loosely to permit a predetermined amount of radial movement of sleeve 11 within the clamp. The provision of finger or arm 22 makes the clamp a unitary assembly, so that when the clamp is opened, there. istno. possibili/typt any part thereof becominalast.. F.u1..th er,.,tha finger. r. arm prevents the.. Sleeve 11 from turning when the clamp is open, and this facilitates the removing of the hose ends when it is desired to disconnect `thefllplina;f

In igure 3 :the clamningfmember 1.7 f consists: of; at flat. resilient,` strip,. and.; this= prwidesfy for f a. high degreef of; resilience in the clamp, so that it remains beatringgtightly. against the Surfaceaofvthehaseendsranalltimes It is to be noted that the-,width of;the;jaws.gn actual' clarrlping.-i engagement. with.l the.. hoseI ends; is` relatively narrow, on the order, say, of two to three millimeters; and thatzthis Produces atrelatvely.highacompressive tress in rthe.. hose 10.- nsuretthat fthe.: Couplinafwillrbefn' rughe, while, at the same time, the stress on theh,oseis;- distrib. uted-z Oven at sufficiently. greet.. area that thef,.hose;isf.n.ot cut or crushed.v

The; arrangement-shown inFisu-res 4,-5,A and-16,v issimilar to the modifications; offFigpresl, 21, and 3,-;.withthe essential fdetence C0.nsistir1g..iny the. constructionot a the resilient clamping strip 23, and which, instead of;` being. detaehably enaagedwth ahODk-Or projection. Onrtheupper clamp half such as@ inFignre 2, ispivoted thereto, as by ay pivot pin `2 4.- TheFigures 4; 5, and 6yarrangemnt thus further carry out theidea ofthecouplingtbeing;made-iny an` .integral unit;

It will be apprcciatedthatthe couplingdeviceoffthisinvention: can-be, used notonl-yA for -conventionalnrubberr hoses, but alsoforl hose made ofplastic, particularly, elastomeric plastic, and -thatit can, be` employedrfnobonly., in connection with air hoses, but also with hydraulic. hoses, water-lines,` and inv chemical plants. Y

It will also beunderstood that the illustrated ;andde scribed conventional arrangements .are4 merely by wayof` example of the preferred marmer-,ofgadaptingthis invenf tion to Aa specific.` conventional embodiment,` andl that many4 changes .can be made in lthe actual construction of thevdevice withoutdeparting-,from this invention.

Fon example, vthe double-clamp could "be shaped-:inta` different manner andprovidedwith a different, sortof-closing device, andwhich closing.` device couldf=be. locked a number vof different ways., The radi-al shiftabilityoffthe.; internal, double sleeve. relative. to` the outer; lclamp could also be-,accomplished throughY :suitably arranged guidesandL bearingsurfaces, and, also :by .means of a. connectiom between-the sleeveand `the .ol1,t.e1 clamp, if so desired;l

Itfwill alsobeevident, that ,while I :have illustrated-an. arrangement.V lconsistingof a doublet sleeve and` ;a double.. cl arnp,it is;alsopconceivablefthat theytwo1 ends .of fthe; coupling might be made diiferently, one forwexarnple; withfascrew Ithread,. andthe-y oth'er with;.the clamp and sleeve arrangementl according `to this inyentionfaud.L that;l fr irthermore,A undencertaincircLuuStance s,-. the. OPPQSite ends of the outer clampcouldbe separately formedand harerseparate closing. andleckingtdevices with -rareommon pivot'pin artieulatngfth@ tweelamnng tdevicesfsothat. in circumstancesswhere it was, always a Vcertainone, of= the. hoses that-was,disconected, it wouldj nota-be` necessary everytime toidisconnect the other hose aswell It;f will be understood .thatv-thisI invention :ist susceptible.- tO; modicationrin, orderto Aadapt :itfto diierent usages and conditions, and,.ac cordingly, it is de Sir .d.-0comprehend suchj modifications ,within fthistinvention ias; mayx fallwithin c thesclope of, the, lappended claimst l.l Annick-coupling devicefor; resilient hosesand the.; like having v,a clampconsisting -of a. rst andsecondfjaw part pivotallyconnected with each; otherfat`- oneend. by means of ya connecting ping; and an inner;v sleeve-shaving... CQlllallYhapefed annular.; enlargementsat itsopposite.. ends forV passing; thereovernthefends ;of;.the .hoses=.to. bei. connected so.l as to.. grip .rthernA tightly.` bet-Ween :said :innen sleeyenand isaidjaw: parts of .said `clamp fin yclosed position; said device-,comprising ra link member rigidly attached/in central position .Non n and `iprojecting .,-radiallyg from said.l

inner sleeve, said link member being mounted with its freeend withup'layI on ,said connectingpin, ,so as .toallow a limited radial and axial displacement of said inner sleeve in relation to said clamp; a linger lever pivotally mounted at its one end on a lever pin mounted at the end of said first jaw part opposite said connecting pin; and a leaf spring for connectiflg said lever with said SeCOILdjaW p,art said springbcing mounted. at its. one end on a firstJ springholding pin-:mountedJ oir-'saiddever in spaced relation to saidlever pin, and the other end of Said Spring-,g being-mounted; on: aas'eeondJ-f spring holding pin mountedon said secondjaw part in` spaced relation to said connecting pin; saidileaspring'being conducted outwardly.y around said ,lever pill rand.holding;saidV clamp 1in closed position when said lever is in contact with the whole length ofsaidiirst-jaw'ipart; and opening said clamp when said lever is moved out of contact with said rst jaw part.

2; A\quick coupling `device `fonresilientwhosesand. the like having a clamp consisting'vof a iirstr andf'second jaw part pivotally connected with each other;l at: one end-byt meansl offa connecting ping-,andanf inner; sleeve. having conicallyI tapered' annularenlargementsi attA its opposite ends forpassi-ngvthereoverftlzre. endstoftheL-hoses -toffbef connected; so as to-:griptf them tightly.between .said inner sleeveand said jawfparts .of.said clampfinrclosedA position; anatra-connected with; said sleeve and projecting.laterallyI therefrom;y said" connectingspin: 1 passing, loosely f through. thelaterally projecting: end fof said. arm, said first :i and.

second arcuate jaw parts having hanged portionsfatrtheir oppositeL1 sides `iormingtvannular :hose engaging-'areas l.for engagingsaidl hose endsattfafslight idistancefrom. .the said annular enlargementson theends.off'said'inner` sleeve; anger lever `pivotallyi supportedfat :its .one end between the, angedpontions sofl said.-rstjawpartion a =.lever `pin. mounted atthe endfopposite saidrconnecting pin, a .spring` engaging pin mountedon said. fingertleverin spaced relationI to said lever ping.` a leaft.spring,attachedrat one -end= tofsaid` spring. engaging--rpinlfon .said :finger flever, and at the other lend-to,V al pin .mounted onrzthe.' second. jaw. vpart near the: end thereof opposite:saidf:connectingrpin, saidv spring being conducted outwardly around said pivot-pint bearing. said iarcuatefjarv.V partszand forming vthe: fulcrum forsaidA lever, said. spring 'beingofr suclrlength that said..

jawparts .areheld in closed position zandfpressed: against the hose when-said. leverl is.- in contaot.:.with'` said first jaw part, whileA said` spring is:k relievedr when asaid lever.

is moved. outof Contact .with saiddirstjaw, part, :thereby opening said clamp and.releasingrsaidfhosef ends...

3. A quicka couplingr device. for resilient: hoses and the, like comprisingy an; inner .sleevefhaving' annular en-, largements at its oppositeaends', .saidaenlargements being conically tapered toward. said; ends. andbeing.

adapted. for.receiving;thereon'Ihe yends-.fofilthe hoses to.

'beV connected; an armconnected wi-th:.;said sleeve and projecting radially therefrom; a connectingv pinhoused loosely inthe laterally1projectingaienda:offsaidnarm and projectingin axialdirectionf on both sides-:.thereof; .a

clamp :adapted 'for mounting `.about sadihosefsends, said.` clampconsistingvof a rst and a;second;arcuate jaw part,

a leaf. lspring.; rotatably= mountedwith -itsone end von said pin-in saidl leverrecess,-and-withitsother"M end on a pin mounted on the second jaw part away from said connecting pin, said spring being conducted outwardly around said lever pin and holding said jaw parts in closed position when said lever is in contact with said irst jaw part, while said spring is relieved when said lever is moved out of contact with said rst jaw part, thereby opening said clamp and releasing said hose ends.

4. A quick coupling device for resilient hoses and the like comprising an inner sleeve having annular enlargements at its opposite ends, said enlargements being conically tapered toward said ends and being adapted for receiving thereon the ends of the hoses to be connected; an arm connected with said sleeve and projecting radially therefrom; a connecting pin housed loosely in the laterally projecting end of said arm and projecting in axial direction on both sides thereof; a clamp adapted for mounting about said hose ends, said clamp consisting of a lirst and a second arcuate jaw part, said jaw parts being pivotally arranged on said pivot pin, and having flanged portions at their opposite sides, said jaw parts comprising annular hose engaging areas for engaging said hose ends at a slight distance from the said annular enlargements on the ends of said inner sleeve, said hose ends thus being gripped firmly between said hose engaging areas of said jaw parts and said enlargements of said inner sleeve when said clamp is closed; a finger lever pivotally supported at its one end on a lever pin mounted between the iianged portions of said first jaw part at its end opposite said connecting pin, said lever having a recess near its supported end with a spring holding pin rigidly mounted therein; a leaf spring rotatably mounted with its one end on said pin in said lever recess, and with its other end on a pin mounted on the second jaw part away from said connecting pin, said spring being conducted outwardly around said lever pin and preventing said clamp from opening; and said spring being relieved when said lever is moved out of contact with said rst jaw part, thereby opening said clamp and releasing said hose ends.

5. ln a quick coupling device for resilient hoses and the like having a clamp consisting of a rst and second jaw part pivotally connected with each other at one end by means of a connecting pin; and an inner sleeve having conically tapered annular enlargements at its opposite ends for passing thereover the ends of the hoses to be connected so as to grip them tightly between said inner sleeve and said jaw parts of said clamp in closed position, a combination comprising said jaw parts having annular hose engaging areas spaced slightly less than the distance between the said annular enlargements on the ends of said inner sleeve, central transversal recesses in said jaw parts at the said end of the connecting pin, said recesses registering with each other to form a transverse arcuate slot, link means rigidly connected with and projecting radially from said sleeve between the said hose ends and extending through said arcuate slot to be rotatably and loosely mounted on said connecting pin for connecting said sleeve With said jaws, said link means being capable of a limited axial and radial displacement Within said slot thereby holding said sleeve in essentially central position with regard to said clamp, so that the said hose-engaging areas of said jaw parts press upon the said hose ends immediately inwardly of the said enlargements on said sleeve, while permitting a limited axial and radial displacement of said sleeve in relation to said clamp thereby causing even pressure to be applied to said hose ends on all sides around their peripheries independent of eccentric irregularities in the Wall thickness of said hoses; and a manually operable resilient oonnector connecting the said jaw parts at their sides opposite said pivot operable to draw the jaw parts toward each other and into resilient engagement with the hose ends on said inner sleeve.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 142,388 Goble Sept. 2, 1873 509,458 Still Nov. 28, 1893 548,932 Snyder Oct. 29, 1895 740,664 Kroll Oct. 6, 1903 936,627 Hill Oct. 12, 1909 1,122,557 Versluis Dec. 29, 1914 1,303,098 Merz May 6, 1919 1,358,633 Hachmann Nov. 9, 1920 2,303,927 Fogg Dee. 1, 1942 2,304,911 Harpold Dec. 15, 1942 2,479,580 Marco Aug. 23, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 51,603 Austria Iuly 15, 1911 

